The C-Brats Forum Index
HomeForumsMy TopicsCalendarEvent SignupsMemberlistOur C-DorysThe Brat MapPhotos

Inflatable

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Dinghys
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JimR



Joined: 26 Jul 2016
Posts: 3
City/Region: Whidbey Island
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2016
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-'scape
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:12 am    Post subject: Inflatable Reply with quote

We are purchasing a 25' Cruiser and would like advice on inflatables.
_________________
JimR
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 12:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We have a 25 and store the boat, inflated, on the roof. Therefore, weight is a primary concern. We do not have a crane installed although I did just order a Garhauer model and I will install it asap. I don't know if it will be able to lift the boat onto the roof, but it will lift the engine onto the boat, thus saving my back and shoulder.

Right now I pull the dinghy up over the front rail and then slide it onto the roof. Getting it up over the rail is the difficult part, although manageable. I believe our boat weighs about 60 lbs. It is 7'6" and we use a Suzuki 2.5 horse to push it. It's an inflatable floor version. There are boats w/ wood slat floors and alum slat floors, but they usually weigh more.

You could use something lighter, like a doughnut dinghy. Those will not plane but we don't see the need to go fast. Our current model will not plane with the 2.5 either. Rowing is an option; no gas & no extra outboard. But if you anchor out a ways or the wind/current pick up, rowing can be a real PIA or damn near impossible.

The type of material the ding is made of varies. Hypalon lasts longer, but is more $$. Our boat is PVC which works fine for us. I just keep it covered when not in use; UV will age it quickly. I store it away in winter, deflated and dry.

I don't see the need for anything larger, as it is primarily my wife and myself and our g-kids are young (and small) and rarely with us. Something in a similar size is perfect for a couple or even a couple with a dog.

_________________
"We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
starcrafttom



Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 7878
City/Region: marysville
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1984
C-Dory Model: 27 Cruiser
Vessel Name: to be decided later
Photos: Susan E
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We have used inflatables and kayaks. I prefer the kayaks for exploring but I like the dinghy for taking the dog ashore. Well I like the dinghy for going to shore period. kayaks are a pain to get out of at the dock even for me.

If you are getting a inflatable ask your self what are you going to use it for? And that is not a stupid question. Are you just looking to go a short ways from anchor to shore? Or are you looking to explore or maybe fish out of ? Set crab pots? If you are doing anything but the short shore run I would stay away for the soft floor models. They are a bitch to row any more then a 100 yards. They are harder to get in and out of in my opinion. I much prefer the inflatable ridged floors. You fill then with air but they are rock hard to stand on. Most of them have a inflatable rigid keel which makes them easy to row, faster with a motor. In fact we had a small motor for our flat floor dinghy but the dinghy with the inflatable ridged floor and keels row so nice and easy that I left the little motor at home. The same motor would not plane a 6ft flat floor dinghy but it will plan my 8ft ridged inflatable with a keel.

I will let others talk about which materiel is better. I have bought all my dinghy's on craigslist. A lot cheaper to buy and try then sell if you don't like one type. Once you have tried several types you can go get a new one id you want. I have bought and sold 5 different ones before buying my current used one. Made a profit off of every one too.

_________________
Thomas J Elliott
http://tomsfishinggear.blogspot.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
localboy



Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4656
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I should add we originally bought an 8'6" version with larger diameter pontoons. Once I inflated it, I realized it was WAY too big, heavy and ungainly. It would have also required a larger horse engine. The 2.5 we have weighs less than 29 lbs.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
MikeR



Joined: 21 Apr 2013
Posts: 474
City/Region: Mill Creek
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2016
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Photos: MikeR
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

When going out camping for more than a couple of days I enjoy bringing along an inflatable floor 9' Achilles LSI96 (now called LSI290). Probably too heavy for storing up on the roof, but the size is really nice (big!) in the water for cruising around and exploring islands once you are on anchor.

It stores, inflates, and deploys nicely from the deck of my 16'. An electric inflator is handy for this, but even with foot pump it takes only about 15 minutes to set up. The 6 hp Suzuki gets lifted from transom of C-dory and into dinghy, then hop into dinghy and lift motor onto the transom, everything tied off securely while doing this of course! A 2.5hp would be much easier to lift, but the 6 hp isn't bad (for me), and it really gets up and goes!

Most people aren't into this type of dinghy cruising and only need to get to shore, so for that this setup would be overkill, just sharing this particular C-Brat's dinghy-ing experience...I've been using this setup for 13 years on 4 different motherships from 16 to 22' and while I keep changing big boats, I continue to use and love the 9' dinghy and 6 hp kicker combo! (As a side note, this dinghy is large enough it also gets well-used as a boat by itself, either on lakes or calm days out on the sound).

-Mike
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JamesTXSD



Joined: 01 Mar 2005
Posts: 7444
City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Jim,

Welcome aboard. We already had a West Marine PVC inflatable when we bought the CD-25 (back in 2006). It was a U260, made by Zodiac. Relatively inexpensive, slat floor, worked fine with a lightweight 2.5 hp Merc motor. The weight was around 50 pounds, easy enough to lift over the bow and put up on the roof... even easier with two of us, but a bit snug on the space on the bow.

WM is now using Achilles as their vendor - I bought one (sold it with the boat) and was very pleased with the construction. The tubes were a bit bigger than the Zodiac, but it still fit under the tall radar arch.

A lightweight dinghy gives you lots of options. The slat floor ones don't row worth a hoot, but they don't need a big motor to move 'em.

We bought a cover for that WM Achilles to keep the UV at bay.

Great boat you're getting!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
chriscarrera



Joined: 01 Dec 2010
Posts: 96
City/Region: Bellingham
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2006
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Carrera
Photos: Carrera
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 6:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We have a 10 foot Saturn inflatable, seems fine for what it is. Its 100lbs, so over the bow and onto the tomcat roof with my wife works fine. Then I use a garhauer crane to lift my 20hp suzuki from its transom mount onto the dinghy. Outboard doubles as a kicker if all else fails.
Regarding the slat floor dinghies, I had one and don't recommend, floor is too squishy and unstable.
We like the bigger outboard for exploring and going fast.

_________________
"Moore-on" Moore 24
"Carrera" 2006 Tomcat
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
ssobol



Joined: 27 Oct 2012
Posts: 3358
City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
Photos: SoBelle
PostPosted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

IME, using 303 Protectant helps a lot with UV protection. You do have to reapply it periodically though.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
thataway



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 20778
City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 1:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thru the last 50+ years we probably have had almost every type of inflatable available. The least desirable were the ones with full plywood floors, and aluminum side stringers which the plywood slid into. They were heavy and a bear to put together--even on a 62 foot boat. The largest was 13' and planed well enough to single water ski behind. We had a RIB--impractical for a c Dory--probably the one we liked the best was an 8'6" slat floor roll up, and the 2.5 HP suzuki. Some of the 2 hp motors are just not large enough to push a larger boat agains the wind. We also had several "dough-nut" such as the Avon Red Seal. Our current boat, seems ideal: It is an high Pressure air floor, 9'6", about 60# wt, and we can carry it on the cabin top of the C Dory 22. It can take up to 10 hp, we usually use a 3.5 HP 2 stroke Merc--weight about 30 lbs We also often use it with the light weight Torqeedo Traveler 1003--about 3 hp equivalent.

We do have the Garhauer Davit for hoisting aboard, and it really helps. We also have a "cockpit position for the Garheur for motors, ice chests, and even MOB. I am 80 and Marie is about 72, we both have back and arthritis issues, but can handle this size boat, without a lot of problem. I did make a lifting spreader bar, which gets he boat higher, and well balanced: There are two different diameter pipes for the garehauer davits--so be sure to know what you need.


'

Note that if we didn't have the radar strut, the dinghy could be further forward. But it rides fine, with just a little weight on one of the SS cockpit Bimini bows.
This dinghy is so comfortable that we can easily spend an after noon "cruising"--and 2 to 3 knots--or much faster, if we want to burn the fuel. Particularly with our bigger boats, the dinghy was our "station wagon"! There have been times we have gone over 30 miles from the "mother ship" . Even carried a "kicker" on the bigger RIB and inflatables.

My Son's 25 has a flatter roof, and I am going to suggest the Garhauer Davit, and the 9.5' inflatable floor, since he has a 9.9 hp kicker. It should handle his family of 3 plus 2 dogs...

_________________
Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
journey on



Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 3593
City/Region: Valley Centre
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: journey on
Photos: Journey On
PostPosted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

On Journey On we use an Achilles inflatable. I got the 11' model, because it was cheaper than the 10' model, on sale from Defender. We got a 9.9 Honda as a get-us-home motor, part of the boat deal. So far, no real complaints. When we anchor we have our taxi ready to go.

A few comments. First the motor. I didn't want to bring along a third motor so the 10 hp had to do duty for the dingy. One needs a 10 horse to get you home or at least out of trouble, so that's a given. The Honda is the heaviest 10 made so you might look at a Tohatsu. They're some 20 lbs. lighter. Second, given where the motor-mount is on a 25, you may not need a long shaft. Shorter is lighter. Also, I had to make a transom extension to accommodate the longer shaft so it's worthwhile checking the height. BTW, 6 hp is the smallest motor I'd get. We used a 3 hp Evenrude for years and the upgrade to a 6 hp was magnificent. A 10 is outstanding.

Second, the dingy. The Achilles is cheaper than the Avon and well made. Both use hypalon which is more scuff resistant than polyester and doesn't deteriorate in the sun; this may not be a problem up North, but it was for us in SoCal. Also we're sold on the inflatable floor. I'm glad we got the room in the inflatable so don't go small. Ours is 10 years old and in good condition. Better than an Avon and we've had both; both are good. I'd get the 10' model, even if the 11 is on sale.

We tow the inflatable without the motor using a polyester bridle, setting it back on the first wave. Can't tow with the motor installed because it's unstable. Getting a 10 hp motor off the C-Dory and onto the Achilles and vice-versa requires a lift; I made one shown in our album. The inflatable might fit on the roof, I haven't tried. Towed in the ocean, in bays on rivers; no trouble.

Hope this helps.

Boris
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Pat Anderson



Joined: 02 Nov 2003
Posts: 8551
City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
PostPosted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 8:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

We have had an Alaska Series by Gary King inflatable for the last nine years. It has a rigid inflatable floor and it rows really well. It weighs about 50 lbs however, and that is getting to be a chore for me. Greg (Aurelia) recently fixed me up with a double pulley setup that I think will make it easier for me to get it over the bow rail. Once over the bow rail, it is easy to get up on the roof. Overall, we are very happy with it. I have a 2 hp Merc two stroke, but I usually leave it home because our main use is rowing a certain Lhasa Apso to shore!


_________________

DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler (sold 2020)
Pat & Patty Anderson, C-Brat #62!
http://daydreamsloop.blogspot.com

Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    The C-Brats Forum Index -> Dinghys All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
     Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum



Page generation time: 0.1256s (PHP: 86% - SQL: 14%) - SQL queries: 29 - GZIP disabled - Debug on